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Wells Fargo has unloaded the stagecoach and there’s new plastic in town—some good looking new plastic, too. The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers an unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, a 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then a 17.99%, 22.99%, or 27.99% variable APR applies. Balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a fee of up to 5%, with a minimum of $5 applies and a welcome bonus: $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Welcome Bonus
$200 Cash Rewards
Regular APR
17.99%, 22.99%, or 27.99% variable APR
Credit Score
Excellent, Good
Pros
- Unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
- $0 annual fee
- Cell phone protection benefit
Cons
- There’s a balance transfer fee
- There’s a foreign transaction fee
- No travel transfer partners
Highlights
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
- 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then a 17.99%, 22.99%, or 27.99% variable APR; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5
- $0 annual fee
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open
- Enjoy a premium collection of benefits at a selection of the world’s most intriguing and prestigious hotel properties with Visa Signature Concierge
- Get up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your eligible Wells Fargo card. (subject to a $25 deductible).
- Select “Apply Now” to learn more about the product features, terms and conditions
Introduction
The Wells Fargo Active Cash earns an unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases and charges no annual fee. This puts it in competition with the best flat-rate cash-back cards on the market. The 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then a 17.99%, 22.99%, or 27.99% variable APR applies. Balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a fee of up to 5%, with a minimum of $5 applies makes it a solid option for balance transfers, though it does come with a transfer fee.
There are several other flat-rate cash-back cards offering 2%, but the simplicity and ease-of-rewards-earning offered by the Active Cash card make it a delightfully straightforward option. The card also offers cell phone protection benefits and access to Visa Concierge and the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel collection. Though lighter on additional attributes, this card is best for those who don’t need the bells and whistles but for those whose main concern is wanting to bank cash back.
This card is not for the globetrotter: The high 3% foreign transaction fee and lack of any travel benefits makes it a better fit for those who only spend on U.S.-based purchases.
Quick Facts
- $0 annual fee
- Unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
- 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then a 17.99%, 22.99%, or 27.99% variable APR applies. Balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a fee of up to 5%, with a minimum of $5 applies
- $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
Wells Fargo Active Cash Credit Card Rewards
Earning Rewards
Reward earning is simple and straightforward with the Wells Fargo Active Cash: an unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. Rewards are earned as part of the Go Far Rewards program and do not expire as long as the account is open.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash also comes with a first-year welcome bonus: $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months.
Redeeming Rewards
Rewards through the Wells Fargo Rewards program may be redeemed for cash back, on purchases, as gift cards, as charitable donations and more. Rewards may be transferred among Wells Fargo Rewards accounts and gifted to other Wells Fargo account holders.
Rewards Potential
To determine the rewards potential of the Wells Fargo Active Cash we consider what an American household might spend on a credit card each year. Forbes Advisor uses data from various government agencies in order to determine both baseline income and spending averages across various categories. The 70th percentile of wage-earning households bring in $107,908 annually and we base spending on that number.
Forbes Advisor estimates the household has $32,072 in expenses that can be reasonably charged to a credit card. At 2% cash back, the Active Cash would earn $641.44 cash back per year in rewards.
0% Introductory Rates
The Wells Fargo Active Cash card offers an introductory APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then a 17.99%, 22.99%, or 27.99% variable APR applies. Balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a fee of up to 5%, with a minimum of $5 applies.
Other Wells Fargo Active Cash Credit Card Benefits
- Cell Phone Protection: Cell phone coverage for the clumsy or accident-prone.
- Zero Liability Protection: Cardholders aren’t responsible for unauthorized charges
- Contactless Pay: Digital wallet technology means you can use your phone to make payments where available
- Visa Concierge: 24/7 365 phone support for travel and entertainment needs.
- Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection: Extra perks and benefits at a worldwide collection of properties.
Fine Print
Interest Rates
- Regular APR: 17.99%, 22.99%, or 27.99% variable APR
- Purchase Intro APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening
- Balance Transfer Intro APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
Fees
- Annual Fee: $0
- Balance Transfer Fee: up to 5%; min: $5
- Cash Advance: Refer to Important Credit Terms
- Foreign Purchase Transaction Fee: 3%
How The Wells Fargo Active Cash Credit Card Stacks Up
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card vs. Citi® Double Cash Card
Move over Double Cash, the Active Cash is giving you a run for your money. Citi® Double Cash Card is another no-annual-fee card offering an unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases—1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they’re paid off.
Those who want a longer period for balance transfers should choose the Citi Double Cash: It offers a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After that, the standard variable APR will be 16.99% - 26.99%, based on creditworthiness. There is also an intro balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, the fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5). But the Active Cash card comes with a respectable 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then a 17.99%, 22.99%, or 27.99% variable APR applies. Balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a fee of up to 5%, with a minimum of $5 applies. The Citi Double Cash earns ThankYou points which can be redeemed at a potentially greater value when transferred to select travel transfer partners. The Wells Fargo card’s cell phone protection is a benefit the Double Cash is lacking.
Which one is better? It’s too close a fight to call. The two cards are well matched and it ultimately comes down to which one is a better fit for your needs
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited®
The Wells Fargo Active Cash is the simpler alternative to cards like the Chase Freedom Unlimited. The Freedom Unlimited offers cash back with some additional complexity: 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% cash back on eligible dining and drugstores and 1.5% on all other purchases. Will the 5% and 3% cash-back categories make up for the missing 0.5% cash back on everything else? That’s a question each potential cardholder must decide based on his or her financial situation, budget and spending patterns.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited offers more benefits, including purchase protection, extended warranties and a number of travel protections. The Active Cash only offers cell phone protection when it comes to additional benefits. The Chase Freedom Unlimited offers an introductory APR: 0% introductory APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 17.24% - 25.99% applies. An intro transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies in the first 60 days of account opening. After that, a fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer applies. Both cards have similar welcome bonuses, but the Freedom Unlimited’s is easier to earn: 1.5% cash back bonus on everything bought in the first year as a cardholder on up to $20,000 in spending - that's worth up to $300 cash back in the first year.
For some, the Chase Freedom Unlimited will make more sense. For others, the Active Cash is simple and easy to calculate. The cards may make a good pair for some, but more likely using the Active Cash with a card with even more higher-earning categories and an even wider array of benefits would better benefit most people.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card vs. Discover it® Cash Back
The no-annual-fee Discover it® Cash Back is a card with a cash-back rewards scheme that requires a second read to fully understand: 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter up to a quarterly maximum of $1,500 in spending when activated. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
With a 0% introductory APR for 15 months on purchases and eligible balance transfers. Then, a standard rate of 14.99% - 25.99% variable applies. A balance transfer fee of up to 5% of the amount transferred applies, the Discover it® Cash Back offer is similar to the Active Cash. Since it lacks major travel benefits, the Discover it® Cash Back will not be ideal for those looking to take advantage of travel insurance, purchase protection or other related protections.
The
likely best use of each of these cards would be to pair them together. Use the Discover it® Cash Back to earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter up to a quarterly maximum of $1,500 in spending when activated. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically and the Active Cash for
all other purchases. For those who want only one card for all spending needs, we’d recommend the Active Cash in most situations.
Compare The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card with Other Cards
Is The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card For You?
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card makes a worthy cash-back rewards card option with its unlimited 2% cash back on purchases. Though it won’t work for those who travel abroad or those seeking a card with lots of perks, it’s a rewarding card to earn simple, effective cash back without the hassle of tracking categories. The Active Cash can also be a compliment to a card that earns high rewards in specific categories.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card work?
The Wells Fargo Active Cash earns 2% cash rewards on purchases with no cap on the rewards a cardholder can earn. The card offers few extra benefits, but does include cell phone protection insurance.
How do I qualify for the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card?
To apply for the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, you’ll need to visit Wells Fargo’s website and fill out an online application. You’ll need to provide personal and financial information, including your full name, address, Social Security number and housing and employment status to fully complete the application.
What credit score is needed for Wells Fargo Active Cash Card?
While Wells Fargo does not indicate what credit score an applicant will need to receive an approval for its card, we estimate most applicants will need a “good” or better credit score of above about 670. No credit score guarantees a successful application.
What is the best Wells Fargo Card?
The best Wells Fargo card for you will depend on your needs. The Active Cash is a solid choice for those who like to “set it and forget it” as its 2% cash back requires no category bonus activation or thinking about which card offers elevated returns on which purchases.
How can I get a Wells Fargo credit card?
Application for a Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card may be completed online at the issuer’s website. You’ll need to provide personal and financial information including name, date of birth, address and housing and employment status. If approved, the bank will mail you a credit card shortly thereafter.
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